Post-play reading
Updated
Close of play
91st over: England 313-8 (Archer 3, Leach 5) Leach does extremely well to deal with a vicious throat ball from Cummins, gloving it well short of gully, and later in the over he fends another short ball just wide of the brilliant Bancroft at short leg. That’s the end of another entertaining day’s play. England will resume tomorrow with a lead of 382. It should be enough. Should.
90th over: England 311-8 (Archer 2, Leach 4) Labusachagne into the attack; a maiden to Leach. We’ll have time for one more over.
89th over: England 311-8 (Archer 2, Leach 4) Leach gets off the mark with a fine stroke, driving Cummins through mid-on for three. A chant of “stand up if you love Jack Leach” goes round the ground, and a single off the last ball takes England’s lead to 380.
88th over: England 305-8 (Archer 0, Leach 0) England lead by 374. Steve Smith couldn’t, could he? (Clue: yes, of course he bloody could.)
WICKET! England 305-8 (Buttler c Labuschagne b Siddle 47)
Two in two balls! Buttler top-edges a pull towards deep square leg, where Labuschagne charges in and dives forward to take a brilliant low catch.
Updated
87th over: England 305-7 (Buttler 47, Archer 0) “My advice, Rob, is to stop typing with your elbow,” says Mac Millings. “Or at least try the other one for a while.”
Updated
WICKET! England 305-7 (Woakes c Smith b Marsh 6)
Steve Smith takes a spectacular catch! Woakes edged a big drive off Marsh that flew to the right of second slip, where Smith dived full-length to take a blinding one-handed catch. And then he got up and underarmed the ball away like it was the most routine catch in the world. The man’s an absolute animal.
Updated
86th over: England 304-6 (Buttler 46, Woakes 6) There are nine overs remaining today, although I doubt we’ll get them all before the 6.30pm finish. Peter Siddle returns to the attack and is hooked for a single by Buttler. It’s all very low-key.
“2033,” growls Matt Dony. “The Independent Kingdom of Scotland XI travel through the smouldering wasteland of post-B****t England to play a Test match against New Wales. Smyth runs an OBO from a bunker deep underground, watching on a grainy black and white CRT television, last bastion of the Mainstream Media. We cheer when we’re told to cheer. Smith is still batting.”
85th over: England 303-6 (Buttler 45, Woakes 6) Apologies for the brief updates. My elbow has become really sore in the last half hour and it bloomin’ hurts to type. See, this is what a packed schedule does to people!
Updated
84th over: England 300-6 (Buttler 44, Woakes 5) Four more to Buttler, nailed through the covers off Hazlewood. He’s probably done enough in the last two Tests to keep his place for the winter, and an edge for four moves him close to his second fifty of the game.
83rd over: England 290-6 (Buttler 35, Woakes 4) Buttler, who is playing beautifully at the moment, drives Cummins emphatically for four. He is ending a poor series in good spirits: his scores in the last two Tests have been 41, 34, 70 and 35*.
“Re: Simon McMahon’s fears,” begins Geoff Wignall. “By 2033 most likely the game will only be playable and night, when the temperatures drop to the mid-30s.”
82nd over: England 286-6 (Buttler 31, Woakes 4) Woakes is beaten, fencing at a lovely lifter from Hazlewood. He and Cummins have bowled gloriously throughout this series, taking 48 wickets at an average of 20 between them.
“People who think they know the slightest, slimmest thing about cricket should be made to google research for two whole days without rest the story of Learie Constantine, especially his career and life in Nelson,” says Romeo. “Beyond a Boundary should be on every school syllabus. Every year.”
81st over: England 283-6 (Buttler 27, Woakes 4) Woakes flicks his first ball to fine leg for four.
Updated
WICKET! England 279-6 (Curran c Paine b Cummins 17)
Pat Cummins strikes in the first over with the second new ball. Curran, jumping across his stumps, flicks a full ball down the leg side and is superbly caught by the diving Paine. Australia still have an outside chance here. England lead by 348.
80th over: England 277-5 (Buttler 27, Curran 16) Lyon bowls what should be the last over with the old ball. One from it; England lead by 346.
“I dread to think,” says Simon McMahon, “what might happen in the next 14 years if we’re all here in 2033 reminiscing about this summer and how things were simpler in 2019...”
Updated
79th over: England 275-5 (Buttler 26, Curran 15) Curran gets his first boundary, smoking a wide half-volley from Marsh through the covers. The next ball flies off the edge for four more, well wide of Bancroft in the gully. A beautifully placed flick from Buttler brings three more, with the admirable Cummins going above and beyond to save the boundary. Fourteen from the over.
78th over: England 261-5 (Buttler 23, Curran 4) “Rob,” says John Starbuck. “It’s all very well to celebrate 2005, but 1981, Headingley onwards, was much better, because we were raised by cricket from the depths of despair at ever being likely to match Australia. That also brought a very welcome distraction from the Royal Wedding and the riots in several cities. Ghost Town by the Specials was number one, followed by Green Door by Shakin’ Stevens.”
I was five years old, which is why it doesn’t mean as much to me, but I wouldn’t call you a fool. There’s a really enjoyable film on that summer, From the Ashes I think it’s called.
77th over: England 259-5 (Buttler 22, Curran 3) It’s all a bit quiet out there, with both teams conscious that the second new ball will be available in a few overs. An absent-minded defensive stroke from Buttler almost goes back onto the stumps; the next ball is thick edged for a single.
76th over: England 258-5 (Buttler 21, Curran 3) Curran, who has started scratchily, is beaten by a good delivery from Lyon. A maiden.
75th over: England 258-5 (Buttler 21, Curran 3) Curran is beaten by consecutive deliveries from Marsh. A single off the final ball takes England’s lead to a healthy 327.
“I seem to remember as a young boy (born 1931) sitting on what I recalled as splintery park benches at Old Trafford but could not really believe my memories of the seating could be right, now someone in the commentary mentioned it so I was right after all,” says Peter Vernon. “Oh, what memories, Cyril Washbrook, Learie Constantine many other ‘greats’, such wonderful days. I wonder if I was playing hooky off school.”
I so wish I’d seen Learie Constantine. If ever there was a player who shouldn’t be judged by statistics.
74th over: England 256-5 (Buttler 20, Curran 2) Lyon returns to the attack; Buttler drives him gloriously for four through extra cover. He’s ending a largely miserable series in fine form, although he does survive a good LBW shout from Lyon after pushing around a sharply spinning delivery. I suspect height saved him ... but replays show he would have been out on review! That’s the second time today that Australia have declined to review a decision that would have been overturned.
Updated
73rd over: England 251-5 (Buttler 15, Curran 2) Bairstow ends a disappointing series with 214 runs at 23.77. In his last 30 Tests he averages 29, and it’s probably time for a winter off.
“Ah it was a different time, 2005,” says Guy Hornsby. “It felt like anything was possible. Every day was sunny, the pubs were overspilling with cricket fans, beer was cheap, Freddie was wobbling around Downing Street, I bet there was there was an absolute belter at the top of the charts. Oh.”
Demon Days by Gorillaz was the soundtrack of that particular summer, at least in my world, and what other world is there.
WICKET! England 249-5 (Bairstow c Smith b Marsh 14)
Yep, that’s out. It was a lovely low catch from Smith after Bairstow edged the new bowler Marsh to first slip.
Updated
Bairstow is taken by Smith at first slip - but did it carry? They are going to check; the soft signal is out.
72nd over: England 249-4 (Bairstow 14, Buttler 15) “A very similar situation re: Denly happened here in Toronto,” says Glen Crisp. Long story short: Fred Van Vleet was playing badly for the Raptors in the NBA playoffs. His wife gave birth and ‘FVV’ played on no sleep and went on to have the playoffs of his life. Many lines of print were spent wondering if the magic of childbirth was the reason. There may be something to it. Here’s a good link summarising things.”
71st over: England 247-4 (Bairstow 14, Buttler 13) Pat Cummins also returns to the attack, so Tim Paine really is going for it. Bairstow, back in his crease, cracks his first ball superbly through the covers for four - and he does the same to the last delivery. These two look in the mood to punish Australia tonight.
70th over: England 239-4 (Bairstow 6, Buttler 13) Josh Hazlewood returns to the attack. Australia aren’t quite out of this game, not with Steve Smith in their side, but they need to finish England off in a hurry. He almost picks up Buttler, who is beaten trying to drive off the back foot.
“I was just about to email in with memories of watching Clive Radley make that old man’s ton when I thought I’d better check the details,” says Gary Naylor. “Turns out the 15-year-old me was sitting on Old Trafford’s splintery park benches for an ODI century - but, hey kids, played in whites with a red ball. One wonders just how often the memory played tricks before the internet came along with its irrefutable (well, irrefutablish) truths.”
69th over: England 237-4 (Bairstow 6, Buttler 11) Buttler gets going with boundaries off his second and third balls. The first was a luscious back-foot drive; the second was a check drive that just evaded Siddle, who tried to take the catch in his follow through, before racing down the ground. A clip off the pads for three takes him to 11 from five balls, and then Bairstow scrunches a drive behind square for four. Fifteen from the over!
“As someone who has stood as umpire in more than a couple of ‘friendly’ games, I was often the recipient of the considered opinions of players regarding the (potential) decision on a dismissal or such like,” says Mark Slater. “It would have been helpful, I am sure, if it was not that the advice of the fielding side was flatly contradicted by the batsmen. I had to revert to what I was pleased to call my own judgement.”
68th over: England 222-4 (Bairstow 2, Buttler 0) “Ah 2005,” weeps Ian Copestake. “Ardent OBO bonding over Freddie and flamingo shots. Perhaps the last island of beauty ... until Stokes and Leach and Archer.”
67th over: England 222-4 (Bairstow 2, Buttler 0) Joe Denly ends the series with 312 runs at 31.20. All things considered, that’s an admirable effort.
Joe Denly falls six short of a maiden Test century, but there wasn’t much he could do in the face of some brilliant bowling from Siddle. After almost falling to a couple of big reverse inswingers - one brought an LBW appeal, one bounced over middle stump - Denly edged a lovely outswinger to Smith at slip. That was masterful bowling.
Updated
WICKET! England 222-4 (Denly c Smith b Siddle 94)
Ach, that’s such a shame.
66th over: England 218-3 (Denly 94, Bairstow 2) Bairstow shapes to sweep Lyon, realises it’s a bit wide and adjusts his wrists to steer a late cut for two. Modern batsmen are obscenely talented.
“Greetings from Brean Sands, the golden sanded jewel of the Severn Estuary,” says Brian Withington. “Just reflecting that each run England score now brings Steve Smith ever closer to the chance of Ashes immortality. Who amongst us could possibly begrudge him scoring 250 odd chasing down 450? Form a small embittered queue behind me on the dunes.”
Indeed. He’s never batted against England in a successful run-chase, and he seems to have a particular distaste for unfinished business.
65th over: England 216-3 (Denly 94, Bairstow 0) Denly flashes at Siddle, inside-edging the ball just past leg stump. Careful, Joseph.
“Obviously, 2005 was absolutely magnificent, but it gets slightly lost in my memory, lumped in with a Welsh Grand Slam and a certain football match in Turkey,” says Matt Dony. “And my wedding. (It’s an easy year to remember...) I wasn’t as scarred by 90’s English cricket as many others, so the Ashes victory wasn’t as redemptive. This year has been so much more focussed on the cricket, and I think I’ve enjoyed it slightly more because of it. The World Cup was amazing; the final was one of the most astonishing games I’ve ever seen. The Ashes have been, generally, thoroughly entertaining, even with the disappointment of seeing Australia retain the urn. Plus, Master Dony has started watching and asking about cricket, and Mrs Dony came to Sophia Gardens for the first time, and loved it. 2019. A good year.”
64th over: England 214-3 (Denly 93, Bairstow 0) If he reaches three figures, Denly will be England’s oldest maiden Test centurion since Clive Radley in 1978.
WICKET! England 214-3 (Stokes b Lyon 67)
Goodnight. That’s an absolute beauty from Lyon, which drifts in and turns sharply to castle Stokes. There wasn’t much Stokes could do, although he looks as frustrated as ever as he walks from the field. He’s had his moments with the bat this summer.
Updated
63rd over: England 211-2 (Denly 90, Stokes 67) Denly steers Siddle for three to move into the nineties, and then Stokes slaps a couple of boundaries. This could be a miserable session for Australia if they don’t pick up a couple of early wickets. England lead by 280.
62nd over: England 198-2 (Denly 87, Stokes 57) Denly drives the new bowler Lyon sweetly through mid-off for his 14th four. It will be a lovely story if he makes a century, and also a message to thirtysomething county batsmen that the door is never closed: Denly didn’t play for England in any form of the game between February 2010 and October 2018.
“I can’t remember another session this series which has been wicket-free,” says Ian Forth. “Funnily enough (for those who are taking notes) in the last 2-2 draw, back in ’72, it wasn’t until the final test at The Oval that there was a session in which a wicket didn’t fall as well. Both Chappells got tons and Australia won.”
And then scared the hell out of world cricket for the next five years.
61st over: England 193-2 (Denly 82, Stokes 57) Here we go again. Peter Siddle starts after tea with a maiden to Ben Stokes. This might be Siddle’s last Test – he turns 35 in November – and he’ll not want to end wicketless.
“Funny how people seem to have decided that England are only winning because Australia are knackered,” says Phil Harrison. “Weren’t we supposed to be giving that excuse short shrift in relation to England earlier in the summer? Australia are mainly losing this game because they picked the wrong team and made a howler at the toss. And given that they had the better of the draw at Lord’s, England are good value for a draw in this series.”
Teatime reading
This, from Daniel Harris, is a textbook example of smart, original, ardent sports writing. And it includes a love letter to the marvellous Wayne Mardle.
Updated
“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “When all’s said and done after this Test, it’s been a wonderful summer of cricket. One that won’t be forgotten for a long time. Highlight? For England fans, the World Cup final, Stokes at Headingley and the emergence of Archer take some beating, Australia have the Ashes and a 21st century Bradman. And we all have Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli.”
Nothing will ever top 2005 but this has easily been the most enjoyable - and professionally stressful - summer of cricket since then. In a weird way, my favourite game was that group-stage win over India. I thought England were gone, yet they played with such courage and skill against the most intimidating team in the competition.
Tea: England lead by 262 runs
60th over: England 193-2 (Denly 82, Stokes 57) Labuschagne’s final over before tea passes without incident. It was a superb session for England, who scored 105 runs without losing a wicket. Joe Denly is 18 away from a first Test century, and Ben Stokes looks in the mood for a third hundred of the series.
Updated
59th over: England 192-2 (Denly 82, Stokes 56) Denly moves into the eighties with a cover-driven four off Siddle. This could be a life-changing innings. Few people thought he’d survive this Ashes series, but now he has a great chance to become a regular for the next two or three years.
58th over: England 187-2 (Denly 78, Stokes 55) Stokes survives another LBW appeal from Labuschagne, this time after hiding his bat behind the pad. He was a long way down the pitch and it was missing leg. Labuschagne continues to mix jaffas and filth; Denly drives a full toss for four.
Matthew Wade, meanwhile, is telling the umpires how to do their job, suggesting that the Stokes LBW appeal - which was missing leg anyway - has set a precedent for the rest of the game that it’s okay to hide your bat behind the pad.
57th over: England 182-2 (Denly 74, Stokes 54) Siddle replaces Hazlewood, and promptly slips a good one past Denly’s outside edge. Denly responds with a businesslike clip through square leg for four when Siddle drifts onto the pads; an eventful over concludes with a sincere edge that lands just short of the diving Paine. Hey Joe, c’mon Joe: 26 more runs.
“Agree on Denly at 3: it’s where he was picked to bat in the first place, of course,” says Robert Ellson. “Here’s my first XI for the winter: Burns (c), Sibley, Denly, Root, Pope, Stokes, Buttler (wk), Archer, Leach, Broad, Anderson. Obviously the selectors will stick with Root as captain, but I’d really like our world-class batsman back.”
The same. I think I’d swap Pope and Stokes, and probably play Curran ahead of Broad or Anderson in New Zealand, but I certainly wouldn’t misplace my rag on a digital platform if that was the XI for the first Test.
Updated
56th over: England 177-2 (Denly 70, Stokes 53) Yeehaw! Stokes whips a full toss from Labuschagne for six to reach another authoritative half-century. He almost falls soon after, though, gloving a nasty delivery just short of Bancroft at short leg. And he survives a run-out chance when Wade’s throw from mid-on whistles past the stumps; Stokes would have been gone with a direct hit. England lead by 246.
“Whisper it, but Australia look a little like England did in the days before General Fletcher and Colonel Hussain cajoled, coerced and commanded them into a competent and then brilliant team,” says Gary Naylor. “The fielding is scrappy, the decision-making muddled, the bowling uninspired - the game is drifting, which suits England all day long. The crowd are paying handsomely for their seats (and for a beer and bite on the concourse) and they deserve more than what’s been served up in this match. And for that, they should blame the administrators and not the players, who are neither robots nor performing fleas able to jump on demand. The schedule has crushed the spirits of even the fittest and finest and devalues Test cricket.”
The schedule has been a borderline disgrace for at least a decade. There have been so many warnings, almost all of them ignored.
Updated
55th over: England 170-2 (Denly 70, Stokes 46) Denly mistimes a pull off Hazlewood for a single, which makes this his highest Test score, before Stokes cuts crisply for three.
Thanks, meanwhile, to Malcolm Barnard for sending this Molesworth picture, as requested by John Starbuck during the lunch break.
54th over: England 165-2 (Denly 69, Stokes 42) Stokes is beaten through the gate by a ripper from Labuschagne that just bounces over the stumps. For an occasional spinner, he bowls some cracking deliveries. Denly survives a potential run-out chance later in the over after a poor throw from Wade at mid-on. I think Denly would have made it, even with a direct hit. Wade probably went to the wrong end, because Stokes was struggling as he charged towards the non-striker’s end.
Updated
53rd over: England 160-2 (Denly 68, Stokes 40) Joe Denly has quietly had a decent series, and deserves to keep his place for the New Zealand tour. I’d love to see him at No3, with Dominic Sibley opening alongside Rory Burns. It’s not quite Strauss/Cook/Trott, but they share one vital quality with that 2010-11 top three: the ability and willingness to bat time.
52nd over: England 160-2 (Denly 68, Stokes 40) This is now the most productive Test series of Stokes’ career - he’s made 414 runs, three more than in South Africa in 2015-16. He survives another appeal, this time for a bat-pad catch off Labuschagne after missing a reverse sweep.
51st over: England 158-2 (Denly 67, Stokes 39) Hazlewood, on for Marsh, has a big shout for LBW against Stokes turned down. There’s no review, but that looked close. It was slightly hard to appraise, because Stokes was on the walk when the ball hit him on the pad as he flicked across the line. Replays show it was missing off stump. England lead by 227.
“Even more respect to that dude Kim Thonger,” says Brian Withington. “I loved Bill & Ted’s Seventh Seal homage to Bergman with them playing Twister with Death (I guess in the sequel). Like young Curran wrestling with Steve Smith to avoid the inevitable.”
50th over: England 155-2 (Denly 67, Stokes 36) Marnus Labuschagne replaces Nathan Lyon, starting with an eventful over to Joe Denly. He turns a boundary off the pads, checks a drive just wide of the diving Labuschagne and finally mistimes a lofted drive that just clears the leaping Marsh at mid-off before racing away for four.
Updated
49th over: England 147-2 (lead by 216; Denly 59, Stokes 36) That’s a nice stroke from Denly, who cuts Marsh for four more. He’s 41 runs away from a maiden Test century, two days after the birth of his second child. Who writes your scripts, Joe?
Meanwhile, a quick note on the Cork v Archer discussion from earlier, when I was gently belittled by John Cox. I don’t agree that Archer has had a better debut series. Cork was Man of the Match in both England victories, enabling them to draw 2-2 against a very strong West Indies side. He took a match-winning seven-for on debut at Lord’s and a hat-trick in the first over of the final day at Old Trafford. The averages are a red herring, because that was a much higher-scoring series, and so are the number of wickets taken: Cork may have played five Tests but he only bowled in seven innings (plus five overs as the Trent Bridge Test drifted towards a draw).
I wasn’t for one minute suggesting Cork was better than Archer, who might already be the best England bowler I’ve ever seen. But I think we forget the Boys Own impact Cork made in his first year of Test cricket, when he looked a superb, relentless swing bowler with a peculiar pant-splitting appeal. His influence on that series was greater than Archer’s on this, in my opinion, although a second-innings ten-for might change that.
Updated
48th over: England 141-2 (Denly 54, Stokes 35) In Test cricket, Stokes has batted everywhere from Nos3-11. I wonder where he’ll settle over the next few years. No5 feels about right, ideally with Root at No4 and maybe Pope at No6.
47th over: England 140-2 (Denly 54, Stokes 34) Stokes, England’s batsman of the series, moves into the thirties by steering Marsh past backward point for four. In other news, that was a bad non-review from Australia a couple of overs ago, because it looked pretty clear that the worst-case scenario was umpire’s call. Anyway, Denly survived.
“I see Aggers is looking forward to Jofra bowling on the hard pitches down under,” says Bill Hargreaves. “On the subject of fast bowlers, one that I’ve heard an enormous amount about - but have failed to find either footage or articles on - is Lillian Thomson. Complete blank on Google. Can anyone fill me in, please?”
Yeah, she played alongside Evelyn Waugh back in the day.
Updated
Thanks Adam, hello everyone. England are pottering towards what should be a matchwinning lead. They are 208 ahead, with plenty of batting to come.
46th over: England 135-2 (Denly 54, Stokes 29) Lyon sends down the final over before drinks, Stokes tucking one off his pads, Denly doing the rest. Being the halfway mark of the day, it’s time for me to hand the baton to Rob Smyth, who will see you through to stumps. Bye!
45th over: England 134-2 (Denly 54, Stokes 28) Marsh is back on to dry things up. This isn’t a good sign for Siddle, who has been called upon for just four of the 44 overs sent down so far in this second innings. He’s where he needs to be at Stokes, pushing and missing right away. Marsh is convinced he has Denly leg before to finish but Umpire Erasmus turns it down and Paine doesn’t review. Looked a pretty good shout, too. Technology says it was out! Well, well...
Updated
44th over: England 133-2 (Denly 54, Stokes 27) Stokes is getting busy now, advancing the lead beyond 200 with a four then a six from consecutive balls. The first came courtesy of a rare Labuschagne misfield but the second was brilliant - a hard, flat sweep. Shot.
43rd over: England 122-2 (Denly 54, Stokes 16) After waiting and leaving and waiting and leaving, Stokes picks his moment to drive Hazlewood through cover, adding three. Both then pull singles to finish. A productive over, the lead for the home side is now 191.
“Adam,” replies Kim Thonger. “Please do tell the wholly remarkable Brian Withington I’m grateful for his kind words. He’s reminded me that it’s 30 years since Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure found its way into my VHS recorder, (and I don’t mean Bill Edrich and Ted Dexter, for the avoidance of doubt).”
42nd over: England 116-2 (Denly 53, Stokes 12) That’s Lyon’s spell done for the time being, leaving the ground at the end of the over to get his spinning finger looked at again. He split the skin on it at Manchester last week. They were very chatty to Stokes around the bat before he got off strike with a sweep for three. Interesting.
Updated
41st over: England 113-2 (Denly 53, Stokes 9) Hazlewood beats Stokes to begin, working across his body. The ball isn’t that old, of course. There’s still enough there for the quicks - there certainly was for Marsh on Thursday. In response, the left-hander leaves the rest in that vicinity, happy taking a single to long leg when on offer.
“How many of my teams can lose in one weekend?” asks Peter McNaughton. “Australia lost to Spain in the basketball and the Lions lost to GWS, Newcastle United are down 2-1 to Liverpool and this English lead is starting to climb. Surely one win from four isn’t too much to ask?”
I’m sure all Australian readers will all share your Boomers pain. Many of us in the press box spent the first 15 minutes watching the dramatic finish of that rather than the cricket yesterday. Sigh.
40th over: England 112-2 (Denly 53, Stokes 8) Stokes gives the strike back to Denly with a single to long-off, the opener now more watchful against Lyon. He’s getting more turn by the over.
“As a wee lad,” writes Philip Sutherland, “I used to watch Surrey from time to time. Heady days: Edrich, Edwards, Mickey Stewart, Roope, Intikarb Alam, Pocock, Long, Arnold, Jackman and Storey (yes, long time ago) spring immediately to mind so always love The Oval Test. Thank you for your commentary.”
Thanks for your company. It’s heresy to say this as a Melburnian, but I think this is my favourite Test ground. At least in the semi-finals.
39th over: England 111-2 (Denly 53, Stokes 7) That’s a great way for Denly to raise his half-century, clipping Hazlewood through square leg for an attactive boundary. The Oval faithful are standing in applause, acknowledging his fourth Test half-century. Talking to him before this match, the Kent veteran never thought this was going to happen for him as of a couple of seasons ago. A nice story.
A tweet from Ian Anderson in reply to John Stabuck at lunch.
38th over: England 105-2 (Denly 47, Stokes 7) Smith has put Stokes down at slip! It was a tough chance, flying off the bat from the back foot. He got his hands there in time but it was in and out. Earlier in the over, the left-hander took it to the spinner as Denly did to begin the day, coming down and smacking him over his head for four.
Updated
37th over: England 101-2 (Denly 47, Stokes 3) The England 100 is up, Denly pushing Cummins into the legside for one. That makes the lead 169 - nice and healthy. Stokes breaks with the trend of late and takes on a bouncer later in the over, nearly picking out deep backward square. Back to Plan A here, I reckon, fellas.
36th over: England 99-2 (Denly 46, Stokes 2) Denly is most chilled out at the moment, patting Lyon’s offerings back to him until ready to push a single down the ground. I’ve had a listen to the Gower audio on a colleague’s computer and it’s quite funny. Here you go.
35th over: England 98-2 (Denly 45, Stokes 2) They are working to a plan with Cummins, seeing him out of the attack without any risks, surely mindful of the work he has in his legs of late. Denly keeps the strike, helping a short ball on its way for a single.
More on Wade on Richard McConnell. “Massive fan of Wade exuding that trademark “Elite Honesty” and mouthing off. Off the back of a very middling series, he demonstrates a streak of self-confidence that most folk would die for.”
Some Stokes/Warner chat at the lunch break as well, so twitter tells me. I’m sure we’ll read more about that by the close. David Gower had a bit of a hot-mic moment too, I’m told. All the fun of the fair.
34th over: England 97-2 (Denly 44, Stokes 2) I’m going to mozz him here, but I reckon this is the day Denly gets to 100. His 44th of those comes through a clip to midwicket, handling Lyon really well.
“Thought for day,” from Nicholas Walmsley. “Maybe Wade owes his selection in large part to his facial hair? There was always a strong correlation between hirsute Aussies and the position of Yapper-in-Chief: Lillee, Marsh, Hughes, Border, Boon … although it started to tail off in the late 90s. Johnson, of course, had a spectacular muzzie, but this current Aussie crew (Wade aside) are a disturbingly clean-shaven bunch. They need another Ocker or two, then they’ll be world beaters.”
Decent theory - correlation/causation, I wonder? They still grow it when visiting the subcontinent; an Australians-on-tour tradition.
33rd over: England 96-2 (Denly 43, Stokes 2) Cummins is trying to tempt Stokes from over the wicket but the left-hander wants nothing of it, a satisfied observer shouldering arms. For now, at least.
“I read an article written by your colleague Emma John on the retirement of David Gower from the Sky commentary team,” reports Nick Bimson. “Tucked away in this article was a delicious paragraph on the excellency of Nasser Hussain’s and Mike Atherton’s analytic skills and a consequent call for the pair to be awarded a spin-off crime show. Inspired by this prospect, my friend and I began generating potential titles for an appropriately pulpy serial blending morally ambiguous hardboiled machismo with cerebral continental flair; think Double Indemnity with generous dollops of Hercule Poirot. The current fruits of our creative partnership include:
Athers and Nass: Trial by Spin
Athers and Nass: Seams like Murder
Athers and Nass: Outside the Line of Enquiry
Athers and Nass: Death of an Innings.”
32nd over: England 96-2 (Denly 43, Stokes 2) Lyon it is from the end where he picked up Root before lunch. Stokes watches the first few carefully before pushing to cover for one. It was Denly who went after him from the outset this morning and he’s of that mind again, coming down but failing to make good contact this time. He gets a couple down the ground but wasn’t in complete control. Still, it remains a good plan to mess with the tweaker’s confidence.
31st over: England 93-2 (Denly 41, Stokes 1) Top bowling Cummins right away to start the session, punctuated by a perfect leg-cutter to Denly, beating him a treat outside his off-stump. But the opener has shown through this series that he doesn’t lose his concentration after copping a good one, leaning on a lovely cover drive to finish the over.
The players are back on the field. Stokes is at the business end. He’ll be facing Pat Cummins from the Pavilion End. Walking past the team as they set up, Ricky Ponting was offering some thoughts. If I’m reading the body language correctly, I think Smith was suggesting to him that it’ll be Lyon on next from the Vauxhall End. PLAY!
“Ola Adam.” Hello, Geoff Wignall. “Australia need to be careful here - unless they allow England a lead of around 400, Smith’s unlikely to have the opportunity for taking Bradman’s record whilst winning this match.” I’ll take the 905. There are a lot of numbers still left.
“Please pass on my very best to the excellent Kim Thonger,” relays Brian Withington. “I feel almost guilty for hoping that Ravi & co can preserve the long accustomed (and clearly comfortable) Somerset vibe at Taunton in two weeks time. Almost.”
I wonder if Pete Siddle will be available?
Some shirt numerology from Smylers. “The least-droppable members of the England team are probably Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Jack Leach — whose shirt numbers are 66, 22, 55, and 77. So maybe any new player getting a call-up for the next tour would fare best by picking one of the remaining repeating-digit squad numbers? Perhaps 33, which has worked out pretty well for Marnus Labuschagne.”
In Australia, we have a cabinet minister who added an ‘S’ to her name because of numerology. You couldn’t make it up.
More along those very good lines from Paul Jarvis: “G’day Adam from misty Scotland. Anyone notice when Stokes came in just now that his runs scored were 3526 and his average was... 35.26? It jus goes to show... something.”
“Just wondering what a realistic run chase would be for Australia?” asks Martin Gillam. The question probably becomes do they have someone who can take it deep with Smith. No more than 300.
“Can I be the first (and hopefully only) one to comment that nasty people might say that Denly’s being hit where it hurts might be thought of as appropriate in view of the birth of his second child - overpopulation and all that,” jokes Rob Lewis. “Father of four.”
“The prospect of a ‘punchy’ 2nd innings ton from Warner might indeed be ‘tasty to write about’, demonstrating your admirable journalistic bent before any patriotic considerations,” says Brian Withington. Why, thank you. “However, from a Brexit-riddled English supporter’s perspective it could well leave me plucking out my eyes and thus missing the arrival of the other three horsemen of the apocalypse.” Nice imagery. Don’t worry, it won’t happen.
“Seeing Pete Salmon use the term Old Skool immediately evoked the cartoon of Molesworth, in typically scruffy cricket gear, standing in the outfield and musing ‘and it could all be ended in a minute’ while the ball is about to descend on his head,” according to John Starbuck. “I can’t find the drawing online but someone else might be able to, though any fule know that.”
A pretty good session for England. It would have been a very good one had Root made it through to the interval but their lead is building solidly and the Australian attack are having to work hard in superb batting conditions. Can they do it again and punish Australia with a day in the dirt? We’ll find out after lunch. I’ll be back in about 15 minutes to race through some more emails. Drop me a line.
Updated
LUNCH: England 88-2. They lead by 157 runs.
30th over: England 88-2 (Denly 37, Stokes o) Stokes gets off strike from the first ball of Lyon’s over via a leg bye behind square. The spinner stays around the wicket to Denly, playing it out defensively, all on the front foot. He’s earned his sandwich. LUNCH! As they leave the field, Paine puts his arm around Erasmus. They were trying to sneak the extra over in but didn’t make it before 1pm.
Updated
29th over: England 87-2 (Denly 37, Stokes o) Three maidens on the bounce for Australia, something they have struggled to achieve in this Test with the exception of when Marsh and Cummins were operating together after tea on day one, prompting that run of wickets. Marsh, now moved to the pavilion end, has started well, and Denly has nearly got himself through to lunch. One to come.
“Being the Oval and being the Ashes, who will reprise the roles of Brett Lee and Kevin Pietersen from 2005?” asks Boris Starling... a tad optimistically, I’d suggest! “It’s still one of the most astonishing innings I’ve ever seen, particularly that passage of play with Lee bowling faster and faster and Pietersen hitting him harder and harder - such ridiculous hand speed with the bat, and his eyes so focussed it was as though he were in a trance.” He wants Cummins v Stokes, which will be coming up after this lunch break.
28th over: England 87-2 (Denly 37, Stokes o) That’s big for Lyon. Yes, he already had a wicket today but it wasn’t a pretty one. This was, though. Picking up the England captain ten minutes before lunch, no less. That feels good. Good captaincy from Paine too, moving him to the Vauxhall End, where he hadn’t yet bowled from in the Test.
Romeo is very cross that commentators are saying that Labuachagne has been ‘discovered’ in this series despite playing for Australia last summer and making lots of runs for Glamorgan. “Whether he’s South African or Australian is irrelevant because he’s actually Welsh. He’s been legally adopted and his surname is now Llabwschagne.”
Updated
WICKET! Root c Smith b Lyon 21 (England 87-2)
Lyon has two! Root played for turn that wasn’t there, edging the overspinner to Smith at slip who makes no mistake.
Updated
27th over: England 87-1 (Denly 37, Root 21) Siddle gets through a dry maiden to Denly. That’s what they want from him.
26th over: England 87-1 (Denly 37, Root 21) Marsh doesn’t get it going quite so much this time around, the set pair exchanging singles square of the wicket before the captain ends the over with a solid push through cover for two. They’ll get four more in before lunch.
“I’m looking at my hands here and I don’t see how you can even get seven stitches in the webbing between two of your fingers,” Ben Mimmack observes. “Are Marcus Harris’ hands shaped like a frog’s foot or something? Maybe that’s why I never made it as a top level cricketer.” Rule of thumb (so to speak): ALL cricketers have huge hands. Even the small ones. That’s all I’ve got for you on this topic.
Updated
25th over: England 83-1 (Denly 36, Root 18) Siddle is back now too, the Cummins/Hazlewood duo rested before the interval. Denly gets a bit of width from the first change and uses it well, steering behind point for four. It’s a pretty good return to the crease though, twice finding the inside edge with probing deliveries then, you guessed it, whacking the opener in the box again. It was well timed as Denly’s earlier blow there had prompted a full montage of sorts on Sky of the times Root has found it funny when others have suffered. Naturally, it is followed by the David Lloyd incident. “Straight in the nads!” he says. Okay - I laughed. I can’t help it.
“Can I just point out to Brian Withington that nobody can truly understand REAL pessimism until they’ve supported Somerset CCC for a few decades,” notes Kim Thonger. “Every time we’ve had a sniff of the county championship it’s been whisked away from under our noses. It’s not a glass half empty feeling, it’s an empty glass vaporised in a nuclear conflagration feeling.” This time, though?
24th over: England 79-1 (Denly 32, Root 18) Root’s best shot so far this morning, taking Mitch Marsh’s second ball through square leg for a beautifully timed boundary. Australia’s new swing ace gets the ball hooping later in the over though, beating the outside edge by a long way. He’s asking questions with the last ball too, Root keeping one out going the other way off the seam. An encouraging start.
23rd over: England 75-1 (Denly 32, Root 14) They like the Cummins v Root contest but the England captain keeps getting off strike early in the over against him. He gets another ball to jag back at the groin of Denly as he did in his previous, this time clipping the inside edge and running down to the rope. Lucky for the opener on two fronts.
22nd over: England 70-1 (Denly 28, Root 13) After the delay for Denly to compose himself, Root edges the first ball from Hazlewood to slip. It’s a genuine edge - his hands weren’t soft - it just doesn’t carry. Back on strike, Denly defends Hazlewood with confidence.
“Is that why Wade’s in the side then?” asks David Seats. “The chirp?” I didn’t see the incident in question after the drinks break when racing back from the gents, but I assume he was called up by the umps for being a naughty boy again? A bit of that last night, too.
21st over: England 67-1 (Denly 28, Root 10) Oooh, another delivery into the box. Have more helmets or boxes been hit in this series? A lot of both, that’s for sure. Denly is down for a long time too, the medical staff coming out to keep him company. He had handled the Cummins over well to that point, defending solidly then pushing Australia’s numero uno through cover for a couple. Count ‘em.
“Quick word about the keeping of Paine this series,” begins Pete Salmon. “Been a real pleasure to watch an Old Skool keeper ply his trade. Athletic takes done with minimum fuss, and that catch – stayed low, took easily. A quiet masterclass.”
I didn’t give enough credit there, did I? He’s very, very good.
20th over: England 65-1 (Denly 26, Root 10) Good shot, I think? Well executed, at least - Root uppercutting Hazlewood over the cordon. A fairly high risk profile on that early in his innings, I would have thought. As CricViz shows, he doesn’t like letting many balls go. The captain gets two more along the carpet through cover - nice. Cummins and Hazlewood have bowled 15 of Australia’s 20 overs.
“The people here in Cape Town are worried that the England team are not good enough to survive three days at Newlands,” laughs Trevor Tutu. “The problem is that we don’t know when to have the spit-braai (whole-sheep kebab / barbecue). Will it be over by Friday or Saturday? The caterers have to know.” Now, now...
19th over: England 59-1 (Denly 26, Root 4) Lyon is straight off as well, Paine turning to Cummins to replace him the over after the breakthrough. I get what he’s trying to do, putting maximum pressure on Root before he’s set, but there will be a limited number of times he can call on the two big quicks - they’ve done a lot of work. Root gets himself off strike first ball of the second hour, pushing one to the right of point. Good batting. Denly does the sensible thing, absorbing the rest in defence and ducking.
“Morning Adam.” Morning, Brian Withington. “Regarding Steve Whitefield’s lighter shade of pessimism, another 60 something England supporter could expect that the ‘someone getting a century today’ would be Steve Smith (but might dread it being Warner).”
A Warner second innings ton in a big chase? Hmmm, tasty to write about. Imagine his response to such an achievement? Punchy.
18th over: England 58-1 (Denly 26, Root 3) Interesting that Siddle has been taken off after just two overs, Hazlewood already back for a second spell this morning from the Vauxhall End. He’s immediately landing them on that perfect length, Denly defending respectfully.
“Good morning Adam.” Hi, John Davis. “I assume Harris won’t be able to open if he’s off the field for the whole innings (coming in at 7, something tells me?). If so, who opens with Warner? I’m guessing Labuschagne, with Smith at 3. It would be too easy to make a joke about that being one way to avoid being 20/2, so I’ll definitely point it out before everyone else does.”
Because it is an external injury, Harris will be able to open. Whether he does or not is another question. Seven stitches to the hand sounds like... a lot? If he can’t, Labuschagne probably will. DRINKS.
17th over: England 58-1 (Denly 26, Root 3) At least Root is coming in, as Warne says on TV, with England ahead of the game for once with their lead already 123. He’s off the mark first ball, turning Lyon into the leg side for a couple. He gets another in that direction, Denly then finishing the successful over with one behind square. That wicket really was against the flow of play. Burns will be filthy.
England's 1st 50 run opening partnership since 85 v WI at Bridgetown in January. 15 innings without a 50+ opening partnership since then is the longest such sequence in Tests for England. #bbccricket
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) September 14, 2019
WICKET! Burns c Paine b Lyon 20 (England 54-1)
Ohh, and he’s thrown it away. There was nothing special about the Lyon delivery, well outside the off-stump and short. Quite rightly, Burns had a pop but instead of slapping it through point for four he got a little underedge straight into the gloves of the skipper.
Updated
16th over: England 53-0 (Denly 24, Burns 20) Would you believe it, a 50-partnership at the top of the list for the first time in the series. From either team, that is. They get to the milestone with two boundaries off the over, the first given as leg byes as Siddle misdirects (I reckon he hit it?), Burns getting full value later on from a lovely off-drive down to my OBO position at the Vauxhall End.
“I saw someone yesterday saying Archer’s was the best debut series for an English bowler since Cork in 1995,” writes John Cox. “It strikes me that this is a big understatement. Cork took 26 wickets in five tests at an average of 25 odd; Archer’s taken 22 in three and a half at an average of 17. Also, Archer immediately looks like a world class bowler who can trouble any batsman on any surface. Cork immediately looked like what he was - a world class trier who would have his day occasionally in the right conditions. There’s no comparison. The best debut series since SF Barnes would be nearer the mark.” Hard to argue with that. A joy to watch up close.
15th over: England 45-0 (Denly 24, Burns 16) Another win from Denly against Lyon, dancing successfully for a third time in two overs, slotting him through extra cover for another boundary. It convinces the spinner to jump to a more defensive setting around the wicket. England’s openers in very good nick here, Paine’s change bowlers both under pressure. They cannot throw it away.
14th over: England 41-0 (Denly 20, Burns 16) An important day too for Siddle, who wasn’t able to dry up the runs on the first day. That’s pretty much his job description; Paine needs him today. Burns keeps the board ticking with one to square leg straight away. Siddle is right on the mark to the right-hander, finding the inside edge from a good length then cramping him up on middle stump. A fine response from the opener though, pushing through point across the square for a risk-free three. Burns defends the final ball from around the wicket.
“Hammond’s 905 (11th over) won’t be reachable after Australia knock England over for 125,” says Mac Millings. Usually, I’d agree with that. But maybe, just maybe, today they put in a shift? From a statistical perspective, that’s what I want, leaving Smith as many runs as possible for his inevitable (and first) fourth-innings ton.
13th over: England 37-0 (Denly 17, Burns 15) Nathan Lyon into the attack for the first time today, replacing Cummins. It was most unusual for him to only be called upon for four overs in the first innings - that will sting him a bit too, I reckon. He is causing Burns problems right away with the topspinner, finding the inside edge. It’s easier for Denly, who gets down the track to defend a couple of times before dancing with authority to check-drive the spinner over his head for four. Great shot. He dances again at the next ball and hits him for six into the pavilion. Fantastic, assertive batting. If the job against Lyon is to deny Paine the ability to set-and-forget with him at one end, they’ve made a perfect start of it. The lead is now 106.
12th over: England 26-0 (Denly 7, Burns 14) Good again from Burns, stroking one past point early in the Hazlewood set. Denly deals with the rest easily enough. We’re not at risk of having a relatively sedate day of Test cricket with England at the crease, are we? Surely not?
Cummins' average speed in the match is 139kph, quicker than he's been all series. This year, he's bowled 2545 balls in international cricket, 580 more than any other quick. For a bowler who suffered so many injuries in the past, that's a remarkable level of fitness. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 14, 2019
11th over: England 25-0 (Denly 7, Burns 13) Cummins again at Burns to continue their good early stoush. He deals with the pace pretty well, leaving and ducking by default, working one to mid-off from the penultimate delivery. Denly cops a whack high on the leg from the one ball he has to see off. And with that, this pair are successfully through the always-tricky first half an hour.
“To give Steve Smith two innings to get the record runs he may have thought there was a risk of there only being the one if Australia batted first,” replies Mark Slater when pondering why Paine bowled first. I had it the other way around: let him bat big once then rack up some third-innings declaration runs. Not to be. Bradman’s 974 is out of range now but Hammond’s 905 from 1928-29 might be reachable?
10th over: England 24-0 (Denly 7, Burns 12) Hazlewood is all over Denly here, beating him twice to begin the over. So accurate; so consistent. But the Kent veteran, as he has quite a lot in this series, finds a way to get through. He’s earned those winter tours, I think.
9th over: England 24-0 (Denly 7, Burns 12) Cummins bands in short to Burns to begin before going fuller in search of an edge. But the left-hander is all over it, driving with control through cover for his second boundary of the day. Nice. Of course, Cummins bounces straight back with a ball that bounces more than Burns expects, not quite getting his blade out of the way in time, the edge going to the cordon on the bounce. We’ve seen Warner out that way a couple of times in this series. Speaking of, the papers have had a field day on him this morning - understandably so. I’m told he needs 51 in the second dig to avoid the worst ever full series (five Tests) for an Australian top-order player in England.
Was nice to see a few former England women internationals filing in this morning en route to a reunion of their 2005 Ashes win and 2009 Ashes/World Cup/World T20 triumphs. A big day ahead for them.
8th over: England 20-0 (Denly 7, Burns 8) Hazlewood sets up Denly nicely with a couple of balls angled in then following up with the one that decks away, beating the bat. He finds the edge later in the over but the opener plays it to the cordon with soft hands on the bounce.
Word in from the Australian camp on Harris’ hand, injuring it quite badly when dropping Denly yesterday, by the looks. “Marcus Harris suffered split webbing on his left hand while fielding late yesterday which required seven stitches. He won’t field but is expected to bat.”
7th over: England 20-0 (Denly 7, Burns 8) Cummins is running in hard, testing out Denly with a shortish ball early in the over that he can’t quite evade, the ball deflecting off him for a leg bye. Burns is happy enough leaving then defending. Good start from these two.
“I’m a 60-something England supporter so of course my natural perspective is one of pessimism,” writes Steve Whitefield. “For football this is well-founded but for cricket it makes the glorious moments all the more wonderful. Today however I’m optimistic that someone will get a century.”
No better day for it. There’s nothing in this track and the Australian bowlers must be tired after putting in a couple of big shifts already over the last six days. Remind me again why Australia bowled first?
6th over: England 19-0 (Denly 7, Burns 8) Hazlewood thinks he has Burns down the legside with his second ball of the day but it is turned down and they don’t go upstairs. Thigh pad, by the looks of the replay. The left-hander ducks then defends before freeing his arms at a delivery short and well outside the off-stump, carving it over backward point, and to the rope, for his first runs of the day.
5th over: England 15-0 (Denly 7, Burns 4) Nice clip to begin from Denly, taking two from the first ball. Big day he had yesterday, coming from the hospital after the birth of his second child, taking the field just before lunch. Come 6:15pm he was opening the batting. His positive start continues later in the over, jumping onto the front foot and thumping a cover drive for four. Granted, it was in the air for a little bit, but he nailed the gap. Cummins responds by bending his back, generating enough movement to beat the bat by a long way, then whacking him in the thigh pad. Marcus Harris is off the field with a finger injury. I’ll have more information on that shortly.
I’ll get ahead of the curve here with the OVERSEAS TMS LINK.
Morning, all. Thanks JP. The players are on the field. Pat Cummins will kick off this third morning from the pavilion end. Joe Denly, the man who was put down last night, is facing up. PLAY!
Thank you all once again for keeping me company. It’s time for Adam Collins to step in, which means you’d be well advised to refresh your page, retune your emails to adam.collins.casual@theguardian.com and tweets to @collinsadam.
See you again tomorrow!
Updated
“It was my birthday a few days ago and my son made me this birthday card,” emails Richard Lankshear, innocently. But wait, there’s more. “Now I am proud that he has caught the bug of watching his first Ashes series, though I am struggling to interpret the meaning behind the game being played by pigs or that the letters are written in bacon.” Richard has also kindly provided visual proof of the porcine Ashes.
@JPHowcroft pic.twitter.com/AWtyocdebM
— Richard Lankshear (@Rich_Lank) September 14, 2019
“I am getting under my mum’s feet at home while she looks after my dad who has dementia among his new age-related superpowers. But when I ask him if he would like to listen to the cricket there is a spark in his eyes that is worth any number of Superman capes.” Thanks Ian Copestake. He’s been treated to a good ‘un this summer.
The pitch still looks full of runs.
Another cracking day at The Oval. What's going to happen today? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/fX20NCbHGT
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 14, 2019
Geoff Lemon has had little alternative but to extol the virtues of Steve Smith at regular intervals throughout this series. Yesterday was no exception.
Had No 4 been filled by a batsman of similar calibre, Australia might have come to the Oval trailing 4-0. Instead the visitors have had Smith, meaning the fifth Test panned out like the fourth, and the second, and the first. He came to the crease at two down for bugger-all, batted through the departures of his colleagues, then did what he could with the tail.
His 80 was his lowest score for the series in six attempts. What has stood out most about this absurdly prolific run is how the atmosphere of an innings has changed every time he has walked in.
Jofra Archer fronted the press pack yesterday, a gallery including Ali Martin, who filed this report.
Archer, fresh from his second six-wicket haul in only his fourth Test match for England, had noted a difference in how Smith looked at the crease, saying: “It might just be my perception of it but he didn’t look as nailed on as he usually is.” When Smith’s bout of the sniffles was then put to him, the fast bowler replied: “I knew there was something!”
Dennis O’Neill might need his own byline after this email.
“First, what an extraordinary summer of cricket. The World Cup and an Ashes series that hasn’t once given us a three day result (well, without tempting fate, anyway). It’s been a fantastic series, disappointing result but you can’t have everything. I know we’ve bemoaned the loss of Jimmy Anderson, but we’ve found Jofra Archer and now that Sam Curran seems to have been released from revising for his GCSEs, we could well have two potential replacements for Jimmy and Stuart Broad.” An excellent opening salvo.
“I only get to see the highlights, but from what I saw last night, it was good to see the crowd finally giving Steve Smith more cheers than boos. Booing was an ok reaction at first, then it was quite funny but it got really irritating after the third or fourth innings. The point had been made.” Agreed.
“He was astonishing and while I know the Aussie bowlers have been immense, England’s bowlers haven’t really let themselves down - if you give Smith the same average as the rest of his team mates, I’m convinced there’s a strong argument for England winning this series 3-1, he’s been that outstanding. I mean, his 80 yesterday was the poorest score of the series? That’s beyond phenomenal and into properly ridiculous.” Yep.
“Now to a couple of questions that I’ve never understood about the game. What’s the thinking behind a nightwatchman? If you’re sending someone who’s not a recognised batsman out to face an attack geed up and ready for blood, surely there’s a strong possibility that the nightwatchman won’t last the night, giving the other side a fillip? And even if he does, he’s surely an expected victim early on the following day, giving the other side another psychological boost that there’s one more down cheaply?” Absolutely, and you’ve articulated perfectly why the Australian default (in other words the alpha approach) has long been to avoid them.
“And if there is a good argument for that, why did England send out both their regular openers last night? Isn’t the argument for nightwatchmen valid there too? Send out one opener and a nightwatchman or even two nightwatchman?
I’m not trying to be sarcastic or snide here, I’m asking out of genuine ignorance.” These are (valid) questions for men and women on a higher pay grade than I.
“Next, Denly survived an LBW shout because the ball pitched outside the line - I’ve seen any number of LBWs that have pitched outside the line, but they’ve been given. Again, genuine ignorance of the rules, here. I sometimes struggle with LBW, and I’m someone who can understand the offside rule!” Try this handy video Dennis.
Hope that all helps!
Sam Curran was always going to be the character columnists were drawn towards after his pugnacious cameo yesterday. Barney Ronay places Curran’s pint-sized potency in the context of Steve Smith serenely dominating the series against an opponent lacking in spite.
England will look back at this series and imagine how it might have played without Smith. It might be useful also to imagine what some more of this, a little more needle, a little more concerted aggression might have done to that obsessive, emasculating brilliance.
“Hi Jonathan,” hi Rob from Ashford. “It was only recently that I realised that Nathan Lyon’s nickname Garry had derived from a Aussie rules star. I had always assumed it was because of the resemblance of Lyon to the Only Fools and Horses character that the Trotters brought back from France one episode.
Here’s to another excellent day!” To an English audience I can imagine it’s an odd one to figure out without an explanation. The whole “Garry” phenomenon exploded when Matthew Wade was behind the stumps and relentlessly bellowing “Niiiiiiice Garrryyyyy!” at every opportunity. Memes abounded (ovs).
If you haven’t read Vic Marks’s report from day two at the Oval, what’s wrong with you? Let’s be ‘avin you!
The destination of the Ashes has, of course, been decided and that may explain the nature of some of the cricket in this Test so far. Both sides are straining every sinew in the knowledge that the series can still be won or drawn and there are points to be gleaned for the Test Championship. They are all doing their utmost to win. But they cannot always hide their fatigue after this long – and wonderful – summer of cricket.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live OBO coverage of day three of the fifth Ashes Test from the Oval.
Unusually for this series the day begins with England in the box seat after a strong bowling and fielding performance yesterday transformed a mediocre first-innings total into a handy lead. There is now the real prospect of England salvaging a draw from the series and maintaining their five-year unbeaten record on home soil.
Jofra Archer was England’s star, proving once again that when he is on song he is among the most dangerous bowlers in the world. The challenge for England’s strategists is to ensure the all-format weapon is physically capable of hitting that sort of form regularly, and for Joe Root (or someone in England’s party) to become an Archer whisperer and understand how to coax out those game-changing spells on matchday.
But as much as Archer’s six-for dominates the scorebook, the hustle of Sam Curran should not be overlooked. The Surrey allrounder provided some welcome variation to England’s attack with his left-armers but it was his infectious enthusiasm that shone. Diminutive and babyfaced Curran resembled an eager puppy learning how to bare his teeth in sibling combat, but it was long overdue aggression, especially to Steve Smith. It’s a shame Curran has been the only newcomer on display in south London with his youthful exuberance restoring some pep to a line-up that looked weary at Old Trafford.
Speaking of Smith, he continued his extraordinary summer with another half-century (natch), but it is a measure of his mind boggling form that 80 is now considered something of a failure. Once again the rest of Australia’s top order struggled, ramming home the point that this series will rightly be remembered as one of the all-time great individual performances.
If you don’t know the drill by now, I’m around for an hour or so but when play begins Adam Collins will take over. If you want to join the conversation you can drop me a line on Twitter or you can send me an email.
Updated
